Dark Figure of Crime (2018) Hangul (original title): Best of 2018
Language: Korean
Genre: Crime-Thriller
Director: Tae-Gyoon Kim
Writer: Kwak Kyung-Taek, Kim Tae-Gyun
Stars: Yoon-Seok Kim, Ji-Hoon Ju, Jin Heo |Writer: Kwak Kyung-Taek, Kim Tae-Gyun
The "dark figure of crime" is the name given by scholars to the
number of crimes that go unreported or are never discovered. Inspired by a true
story the film is a well written crime thriller about the mental chess game
between a detective and a killer who confessed of mass murders while serving a
15 years sentence in prison.
Hyung-Min (Kim Yun-Seok) is a
detective in Busan. He doesn't care about getting promotions, but instead
focuses on solving cases. One day at a small restaurant he meets Tae-O, who
confesses to Hyung-Min that, about 6 years ago he had received money to bury
the body of someone. As he is about to reveal the location of the body, cops storm
in on to the restaurant and arrests Tae-O for the murder of his girlfriend.3
months later Hyung-Min receives a phone call from Tae-O who is now serving a 15
years sentence in prison. Tae-O gives Hyung-Min a shock by confessing that he
is a serial killer and has killed 6 other people. Hyung-Min visits Tae-O in
prison and there Tae-O give hints about the 6 other murders.
Why a man currently serving 15 years sentence confesses about other murders? What’s his motive? Why did he choose Hyung-Min? Hyung-Min's intuition tells him that Tae-O is telling the truth, while others are skeptical of Tae-O's confession. Hyung-Min now sets out to find the murdered victims without knowing their identities. Hyung-Min’s hunch tells him that Tae-O is telling the truth while other cops tell him he is wasting what is left of his career. Hyung-Min now sets out to find the murdered victims without even knowing their identities.
Why a man currently serving 15 years sentence confesses about other murders? What’s his motive? Why did he choose Hyung-Min? Hyung-Min's intuition tells him that Tae-O is telling the truth, while others are skeptical of Tae-O's confession. Hyung-Min now sets out to find the murdered victims without knowing their identities. Hyung-Min’s hunch tells him that Tae-O is telling the truth while other cops tell him he is wasting what is left of his career. Hyung-Min now sets out to find the murdered victims without even knowing their identities.
What could be the strategy playing here by both Tae-O and Hyung-Min? Is Tae-O telling the truth? What will be the findings of Hyung-Min?
South Korean crime thrillers have
a strong reputation, based on gripping, well directed works like Memories Of
Murder (2003), I Saw The Devil (2010) and The Chaser (2008). Dark figure of
crime is one such a movie, strongly written, well crafted with excellent
performances from the lead actors, the film is undoubtedly the best Korean flick
of 2018.
Ju Ji-hoon’s portrayal as the psychopathic
killer with a high IQ for the minute details was very convincing and on point. While
Kim Yoon-seok as Kim Hyung-min has done a brilliant job in presenting the
detective who’s fighting with his own demons, as he always does. The film
received best screenplay award in the 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Overall Dark Figure Of Crime is an
excellent crime thriller based on a true story with outstanding performances
from the lead actors.
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